Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Cut Steve Clifford A Little Slack


chknwing

Recommended Posts

The current theme throughout the threads is that Steve Clifford sucks.  Cmon guys, hes still relatively new to this.  There was always going to be some growing pains.  The team over achieved last season, and was riddled with injuries this season forcing Clifford to have to alter his rotation through out the year.  Kemba, Al, MKG all go down.  I dont see how any other coach could possibly expect to win when their 3 star players are injured.  I'm giving him a pass on this season.  He was dealt a bad deck, which leads me to Cho.  Hes not getting a free pass, lance is a bust.  Zeller, as hard a worker that he is, hes a backup and you don't draft backup players at #4.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will say Cho's seat should be hotter than Clifford's at this point, but I'm not giving Clifford a pass for a season in which three under 500 teams will make the playoffs.

Just like Rivera doesn't all of a sudden become a master technician just because the Panthers make the playoffs in back to back seasons.

Continuing to play combinations and players that don't work. Day in and day out. His only adjustment is to stick MKG onto a player that gets hot. Without MKG the team has no direction offensively or defensively. Cannot use the roster he has been given effectively at all unless it fits his antiquated system of basketball. Etc. Etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The guy gives minutes to Maxiell who has no future with this team over Biz and Vonleh. He is horrible at managing the game and is terrible when it comes to in game adjustments. Sorry he just isn't fit to be a head coach.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't even care that we're gonna miss the playoffs. This roster isn't that good and it's been shredded by injuries.

But I'm mad as hell watching him waste a year playing old veterans that don't even belong in the NBA over our prized draft picks. That alone should be grounds for getting fired.

This.

The Maxiell signing sounded awesome when it first came to fruition. A vet to sit on the bench and mentor our young players, a calming influence, etc. Then he comes in and is getting heavy minutes... Smh... Clifford is an idiot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clifford doesn't get a pass. Sure, I doubt another coach could squeeze many more wins out of this team, but that doesn't absolve him from doing poorly.

His offensive "system" is garbage isolation with half hearted pick and roll. Seriously, all we do is clear out at the top for one of our two point guards and the bigs will set a pick with little success which will lead to an off the dribble chuck by Kemba/Mo or a big Al black hole session. And don't even get me started on the 2 inbounds plays that we have.

Beyond that his rotations are trash. If a player gets hot and starts to carry us offensively he is taken out and not put back in until his given time (see Hendo against Miami). He plays Roberts over Daniels (at 2 guard, which is insane) and Maxiell over Vonleh. There's no defending that crap.

There's no way we fire him so soon, but it would be 100% justifiable imo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everything Clifford has done is logical. I don't have a problem with him. Of course I would love to see Vonleh out there but he's 19 years old? The Vonleh argument is "if we are going to lose, lose with the young guys". Clifford isn't trying to lose.

Please explain how playing Jason Maxiell over the 9th pick is logical, especially now that the season is lost.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It really is true, this city and its fans are totally OK with mediocre coaches and will defend them to the grave.

 

Clifford is probably a great coach.... off the court.  He's a terrible on the court coach.   He's Fox/Rivera on the court, not playing the young guys and letting the vets run you into the ground.  Even when the season is over, you still don't let your guys get some minutes.  

 

I for one am tired of seeing the Hornets and the Panthers outcoached night in and night out.  We give up so many leads in the 4th, and it's because we're outcoached a good bit of times.

 

It's time to move on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It really is true, this city and its fans are totally OK with mediocre coaches and will defend them to the grave.

 

Clifford is probably a great coach.... off the court.  He's a terrible on the court coach.   He's Fox/Rivera on the court, not playing the young guys and letting the vets run you into the ground.  Even when the season is over, you still don't let your guys get some minutes.  

 

I for one am tired of seeing the Hornets and the Panthers outcoached night in and night out.  We give up so many leads in the 4th, and it's because we're outcoached a good bit of times.

 

It's time to move on.

 

how can you expect the guy to become an NBA championship coach over night.  he was an assistant his whole career.  its a learning process for him.  He'll get it. Takes time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

how can you expect the guy to become an NBA championship coach over night.  he was an assistant his whole career.  its a learning process for him.  He'll get it. Takes time.

 

This is a typical excuse fans of this city's sports make.  It never pans out.   When coaching in game, you either got it, or you don't.  Learning how to build things in practice and off-court things is one thing, but  some coaches are just boneheaded in their approach to keeping young guys on the bench for no reason, he is one.

 

Fox was mediocre and fans made excuses for far too long, now Rivera is the same, and now Clifford.   He's not bad, I'm not saying that, he's just mediocre and if we want to push a team over the edge, this is NOT the coach to do it.    

 

I also seen ZERO improvement with his game-day coaching this year from last.  If anything, we regressed.  Even more terrible rotations and playing times.  Even more 15+ leads lost in the 4th.  He's not getting better, at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • In my view, the realistic expectation for this team to compete will start 2027.  At that time, I think we could be looking at the following (this is HIGHLY speculative):   QB:  You know, Bryce.  I am not a fan, but they don't ask me.  But there is reason for hope--and here it is.  Bryce will be entering his prime.  Since we are likely to pay him, there will be changes that I include throughout this exercise--I realistically speculate on what they are going to do with Bryce and then I realistically speculate on what means in terms of the cap and other positions. Bryce HAS IMPROVED.  The idea is that if you give him more weapons and protection, that will continue.  His career:   At this rate, if his growth continues, by 2027 we should expect nearly 30 TDs and about 12 Interceptions and a Rating of about 98.  His completion percentage should settle at 65-66% or so.  If that happens, you can win with it. The following stats demonstrate how the Panthers will be able to afford it (and re-sign Ickey) My guess is they will require about $60m per year. This is why rookies who can play are important.  It also helps us see the blueprint.  You may disagree, but this is the cruel realities of the salary cap. Robert Hunt:  Cut post June 1 and save $19m.  Who do you replace him with?  Ickey. Tershawn Wharton:  Cutting him saves nearly $15m.  We should all hope to see Aaron Hall (UDFA) make the roster and play well.  Regardless, this is a position we would likely have to address in the next draft. Trevin Moehrig:  Cutting Moehrig as the starting SS saves this team $16.5m.   Ransom will be on year 3 of a cheap rookie deal and should be more than ready to take the reins.  their styles are similar.  Furthermore, FS Wheatley (R, 4th round) will be starting. Taylor Moton:  So much depends on his knee, but I have an idea that he can play another 3 years.  extending him could save the team about $5m per year.  Cutting him outright would save the team about $21m. In the most drastic situation, we have to cut Moton and the other three players mentioned.   We would need (in all likelihood) a starting DT and RT.  It is possible that the DE would be addressed, but Wharton's production (so far) could be equaled by a rookie.  Look for a cut free agent and a 2027 draft pick here.  If you cut Moton, you save $21m, and that would be the only big hole to fill.  Having Ickey at RG gives you some depth at T, and Ickey could be the guy.  T could be pick in the 2027 draft (first round), fwiw.  It saves you $21m while costing you $5m, for example. We get younger, creating a core of Freeling, Hecht, and the RT first rounder in 2027) along with Ekownu (second contract in the $15m range, and Lewis, whose contract would be in the $16m range if not extended.)  The OL cuts (Hunt, Moton) would save $40m.  The OL would get younger and still solid with veterans at G.   By cutting Wharton (no brainer if his play stays the same) and Moehrig (good player--but we have Ransom on a rookie contract who would not be that much of a drop off--if any) in addition to Hunt and Moton, we would save over $70m in cap room. We would be able to give Bryce bag  and we would have enough to re-sign Ickey (if the knee is not too risky) to a Guard contract (probably at a discount, coming off that injury).  Furthermore, we could add a RT in the draft (or a RG if Ickey moves to RT) and that would be the only large hole to fill. Correct my logic if you see issues-- On defense, in addition to the aforementioned, Scott ($2m contract) is out, replaced by a 4th round rookie contract. CB Jackson's contract ($7.8m) expires and he is (possibly) replaced by a rookie contract.  At Edge, patrick Jones II's $10m contract expires and he is likely a reserve, and his role is absorbed by Phillips, Scourton, Princely, and possible an UDFA like Isaiah Smith or a 2027 draft pick.   These productive developmental players over the past 2 drafts will pay huge dividends.  On paper, I see the team getting much younger and possibly better while cutting nearly $100m and reallocating that money to get more production.          
    • If everything played out and that last thing happened, I probably just quit. 
×
×
  • Create New...